1. RESPONSES TO THE CHRISTCHURCH EQ

3. RED CROSS  The earthquake left some survivors stranded in damaged homes with no power, no water, no sewerage and no way of contacting anyone. In response to the disaster the New Zealand Red Cross sent out volunteer emergency response teams to conduct urban search and rescue, door-to-door outreach and psychosocial support. Following the earthquake more than 45,000 people registered with the Red Cross, which worked to reconnect families separated in the disaster.New Zealand Red Cross  The Red Cross also helped to supply clean water and distribute water containers, soap and hygiene information. Staff and volunteers at welfare centres supported people as they worked through the challenges they faced.  Our response and recovery work  The September 2010 and February 2011 Earthquake Appeals totalled over $128 million in donations - the largest New Zealand Red Cross Appeal since the Second World War.  100% of every dollar donated has been put towards our response and recovery in Christchurch.  $92 million distributed in grants  112,029 grants recipients  4,366 outreach contacts  5,674 door knocks  43,454 torch radios distributed  12,750 winter warmer packs distributed  Three support groups for those who have lost loved ones in the earthquakes.

4. OPERATION CHRISTCHURCH QUAKE  The New Zealand Defence Force Collection  Operation Christchurch Quake was the NZDF's emergency response to the 22 February 2011 Canterbury Earthquake. To this date, Operation Christchurch Quake is NZDF's largest operation on New Zealand soil, involving over 1700 personnel from the New Zealand Army (NZ Army), Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), 10 RNZAF aircrafts, 77 Unimogs, 47 Pinzgauer light operational vehicles, 28 light armoured vehicles, 4 RNZN ships, and 129 personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces.  During Operation Christchurch Quake, the NZ Army, RNZN, and RNZAF banded together to ensure there was support on the sea, in the air, and on the ground. The material in this collection depicts the wide range of tasks each organisation performed in the days after the earthquake.

5. NZ ARMY  New Zealand Army  The New Zealand Army responded to the February 2011 earthquake within minutes, due to a large number of defence personnel being in the South Island when the earthquake struck. At the peak of the Defence Force's efforts, they had 1379 personnel on the ground, 77 Unimogs transporting equipment and stores, and 47 Pinzguaer Light Operational vehicles on the move.  Their support ranged from medical, logistical and planning, to engineering tasks, cordon maintenance, and forensic dentistry.

6. ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY  The RNZN were also able to quickly respond to the 22 February 2011 earthquake, as HMNZS Canterbury was in the port of Lyttelton when the earthquake hit. In early 2011, the ship had been announced the core asset of a joint Australian-New Zealand task force for disaster-relief operations. As a result it was already loaded with much of the vehicles, supplies and personnel needed to respond to the event.  Over the next few days, HMNZS Canterbury provided support to Lyttelton in a multitude of different ways. They set up soup kitchens around the township, serving over 700 meals to local residents. Its sailors also performed security patrols of the town, assessing any other needs that would have to be met, and guarding cordons around damaged buildings. When its supplies ran out, HMNZS Canterbury took an overnight trip to Wellington to resupply.

7. ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE  Within hours of the 22 February 2011 earthquake, the RNZAF drew air power from across its squadrons and units, collecting imagery of the damaged infrastructure around Christchurch, and transporting Urban Search and Rescue and St John's Ambulance personnel to Christchurch.  Using their Hercules C-130 and Boeing 757 aircrafts, the RNZAF created an airbridge between Christchurch and Wellington, evacuating over 4,800 civilians from Christchurch, as well as delivering almost 316,000 kilograms of supplies from Wellington and Auckland.  The RNZAF's fleet of Iroquois helicopters also proved incredibly useful during the days after the earthquake. They were initially used to survey the damage in Christchurch, but later carried engineers and staff from the University of Canterbury to inaccessible areas in order to install seismic sensors and assess water reservoirs.  The NZDF material showcases not only the NZDF's efforts in Christchurch after the earthquake but also the incredible speed with which NZDF reacts to natural disasters, the wide range of skills and expertises held by the RNZAF, RNZN, and NZ Army, and the personnel's dedication to New Zealand and its people.

8. STUDENT VOLUNTEER ARMY  On the 4th of September 2010, Christchurch was struck with a 7.1 magnitude earthquake. Student Volunteer Army was created via Facebook and served as a platform where people could find the necessary information about how to volunteer. Over the next two weeks, we provided safe and organized volunteer placement, transport, food, and support for over 2500 students. We focused on low risk areas during the immediate response period and as a result the SVA cleared over 65,000 tons of liquefaction. .  While the central task was the mass-deployment of volunteers to shovel liquefaction from properties, a strong focus was put on the well being of residents;  showing a presence in the streets,  offering hot meals,  clean water,  and guidance to professional assistance.  The SVA also supplied and managed operations for various organizations including multiple government departments, Civil Defense, and City Council. Our objective was to increase the efficiency in specific services, for example  delivering chemical toilets and information pamphlets,  laying sandbags,  staffing data entry,  and manning call centers.

9. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE  International offers of assistance[edit]edit  "I know that [Australians'] thoughts are with the people of New Zealand as they grapple with this enormous tragedy in Christchurch.... We will be doing everything we can to work with our New Zealand family, with Prime Minister Key and his emergency services personnel, his military officers, his medical people, his search and rescue teams. We will be working alongside them to give as much relief and assistance to New Zealand as we possibly can."  Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on the earthquake. [166]Julia Gillard [166]  Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard offered Australia's assistance. [167] The Australian Government also pledged A$5 million (NZ$6.7 million [168] ) to the Red Cross Appeal. [132] On 1 March, it was announced that the New South Wales Government would be donating A$1 million (NZ$1.3 million [168] ) to the victims of the Christchurch Earthquake. [169]Julia Gillard [167]A$NZ$ [168] [132]New South Wales Government [168] [169]  The UN and the European Union offered assistance. [170] Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General, sent a message of support to the Prime Minister and stated "our heart and condolences go immediately to the bereaved." He added that the "thoughts and prayers" of the Commonwealth were with the citizens of New Zealand, and Christchurch especially. [171]European Union [170]Kamalesh SharmaCommonwealth Secretary-General [171]  Sixty-six Japanese USAR members and three specialist search and rescue dogs arrived in Christchurch within two days of the 22 February earthquake. They started work immediately in a multi-agency response to the collapse of the CTV Building on Madras Street. Many of the people trapped in that building were Japanese and other foreign English language students. [172]CTV Building [172]  Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper released a statement saying: "The thoughts and prayers of Canadians are with all those affected by the earthquake. Canada is standing by to offer any possible assistance to New Zealand in responding to this natural disaster." [173][174]Stephen Harper [173][174]  David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, issued a statement and sent SMS text messages to Commonwealth prime ministers. In his formal statement, he commented that the loss of life was "dreadful" and the "thoughts and prayers of the British people were with them". [175] David CameronCommonwealth [175]  Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, issued a statement on behalf of the UN expressing his "deep sadness" and stressed the "readiness of the United Nations to contribute to its efforts in any way needed". [171] Ban Ki-MoonSecretary-General of the United Nations [171]  China gave US$500,000 to the earthquake appeal, and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed his deep condolences to New Zealand. [176] Twenty Chinese students were reported missing following the quake. [177]Chinese PremierWen Jiabao [176] [177]  WIKIPEDIA